The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-01-10
THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE.
John Sherman at Home-His Recreations al
His Family Circle.

John Sherman at Home-His Recreations and
His Family Circle.
Washington Letter in Chicago News.
The first time I ever saw Senator Sherman
was at his country place in Mansfield. o. His
residence there is very unlike the one he has In
Washington When Congress is in session and
he is at the capital he is one of the busiest of
men, and has not much time to enjoy the COM
forts Of a home; but once away from the busy
scenes of the political metropolis, the distiu
guished fnancier enters with full zest into all
the domestic enjoyments that go toward making
a delightful home life The Sherman homestead
in Mansfield is apretentious brick house OF three
stories, ornamented with numerous porches, ga
blss, and balconies. through the interstices of
which the evergreen Virginia ivy twists
aud tangles itself in fantastic festoons ana luxur
ious masses. The building stands in the midst
of beautiful and well-kept grounds comprising
about twenty acres, and here Mr. Sherman rests
after his arduous labors of the winter and diverts
his mind by attending to his little farm. When
at his Ohio home he spends much of his time in
the open air in pedestrian tours about the sur
rounding country. or in his favorite amusement
of driving. He keeps a large stable of horses,
big heavy brutes and he makes them earn their
living; for he is in no sense lover of horses
cept for the use he put them to. and prob
ably owned fast horse in his life. He
Judges their value he does that of men, by the
amount of work they can do.
Though a great part of his time is spent in
recreation it must not be understood, however,
that he does not work at his country home. On
the contrary. he is a hard worker. The house is
most conveniently arranged and every comfort
that money can buy or refined taste suggest may
be found. Here are collected his library and
many of his private papers, and many of the
great speeches delivered in the Senate were pre-
pared in this quiet country retreat.
Of the public life of the fnAncier we need not
speak for he has been so long before the eyes of
the world that his political career is familiar to
every one But the popular estimate of the char
| acter of John Sherman would. perhaps, undergo
-. - 81 4n1o
| and look into his private life Those who have
| met the Ohio Senator in his public capacity have
| found him cold and unsy mpathetic, and they
! have left his presence with an unfavorable i'm
| rience with public men that they may be divided
| into two classes. The one is always
on the hunt for popularity with the
people; they always have hattering word. q
| stock of meaningless politeness, and patroniz-
ing familiarity that. strange to say, makes them
| many friends. The other, and by far the smaller
| class, are very different. They express them
selves in the fewest words possible; they have no
| time to waste. and seem to consider pubic bust
ness as business, and not the plaything of an
| hour. 1t is not within my province to say
/ which of these classes have the correct idea of
| the duties of public men. All of us know that
| the two classes exist, and it is for every to
| have his own opinion about the matter Be
| that opinion what it may, we have only to say
that John Sherman belongs to the latter class
But if he lis cold and heartess, and, perhaps. cal
tor is another man when he passes within the
portals of his simple home, even if its master is
rated as twice a millionaire The Washington
| residence of the President pro tenn. of the Sen
ate is situated on street, one Of the most fash
ionable thoroughfares in the city. The house is
| built of impressed brick, painted brown, with
foundations and basement of stone, and facings
of the same material. The windows and doors
are large and old-fashioned, with rounded caps
and transoms, and plain stone steps with iror
ratings wind up to the little porch which leads
into the high front door. Altogether, it forms
strange and rather pleasing contrast to many o.
the magnificent dwellings which have beer
erected around it.
The interior of the house corresponds with i'll
old fashioned exterior. Everything is very com
Portable and convenient, but there is nothing lik'
; | luxury in the surroundings. In the parlors W
! find few paintings and etchings, selected will
the best of taste. Then there is choice collec
ton of bric-a- brac and specimens of ladies
need!e-work which, in their arrangement, shoy
sofas and other ordinary furniture complete tn
furnishing Of the parlors. Back OF these rooms
and running across the entire rear Q
) the house is the dining room, that most impor
? tant apartment of the residence of public mar
Senator Sherman does not entertain as frequent
o | ly now as when he Secretary OF the Treas
, ury; his hospitalities being for the most par
, | confined to small receptions and select Dime
: | parties. The family is small, consisting of bu
f three members, the head of the house. his wife
lady of great popularity, and an adopte
daughter, young lady of much intelligence an
| refinement The taste of the ladies. howeve
does not seem to incline much toward socii
pleasures, and they live very quiet life. takin
: very little part in the whirl of social life thu
. goes on so necessarily around them.
6 Across the hall from the parlors is the stud
and library, where the Senator spends most {
: his time when at home. He can be found hel
. nearly every evening, and, with his wife. pu
Z sues his reading. Mr.. Sherman is. perhaps, or
of the greatest readers in public life, and N
a h,.k e4,.61
well. Besides keeping abreast of current affa
T. by means OF large list of newspapers. he keel
it we'll informed on current literature. and is
% racious student of every new work on fnanc
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